A Systematic Review of Biophilic Design in Indoor Environments: Health, Sustainability, and Cultural Perspectives | Chapter 2 | Materials That Matter: The Future of Interiors through Innovation

 

Biophilic design is a design typology that aims to create a natural environment within the built environment. As rapid urbanisation continues to emerge, cities and more people spend long hours of the day often indoors. Artificially controlled environments have created the importance of incorporating nature into built spaces has become increasingly critical. Biophilic design emerges with the design philosophy aimed at improving human connection with nature and improving their well-being. The aim of this chapter is to review biophilic design studies and their related domains under which biophilic design is being studied. This chapter systematically reviews recent empirical studies, emphasising the physical and psychological impacts of biophilic elements in indoor spaces. The publications that were considered for the study are those published in the past 25 years, from 2000 to 2025. This chapter focuses on identifying key trends, intervention outcomes, methodological gaps, and geographical limitations in biophilic design studies. The Scopus database was used to take studies into consideration. Literature analysis indicates that biophilic design is increasingly being adopted across varied contexts, ranging from workplaces to healthcare and educational settings. But still, it faces methodological and geographical limitations, especially in the Global South regions where the studies are limited. The review concludes with recommendations for future research, particularly in the context of tropical urban regions. It also integrates cultural perspectives from India, highlighting how traditional architectural elements resonate with contemporary biophilic principles.

 

Author(s) Details

Elisba Alam
Sharda School of Design, Architecture and Planning, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India.

 

Heena Khatun
Sharda School of Design, Architecture and Planning, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India.

 

Niraj Kumar Oli
Sharda School of Design, Architecture and Planning, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India.

 

Pallavi Sharma
Sharda School of Design, Architecture and Planning, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-81-990398-6-5/CH2